Zachor 5784 ~ March 22, 2024

Zachor, remember. No need to italicize the word for our Jewish community, since the concept has been a part of who we are from our youth. We have always been taught that as Jews we need to zachor.  Many of us are of the generation that either experienced personally or were made to understand this concept based on the Shoah. We were the ones who bear witness to those who survived and to those who escaped prior to the closing of Europe by the Nazis, may their individual memories be blotted out, but let their actions serve as a reminder.

This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor. It is the Sabbath prior to Purim, where we celebrate the defeat of the dastardly Haman, who was so engulfed in himself and his desire to be bowed down to that he had the king order that all the Jews in the kingdom should be annihilated. As we remember the story, Haman was infuriated that Mordechai would not bow down to him, as we are taught to only bow down to Hashem. Since Mordechai was an ish Yehudi, a Jewish man who lived in the capital city of Shushan, Haman assumed that all the Jewish people would follow Mordechai lead. Perhaps some did. That fact the Megillah (the Scroll of Esther) does not mention.

This Shabbat we read a selection in the Torah that is found in its end chapters. It reminds us to zachor how the nation of Amalek ambushed the fledgling Israelite nation as they left Egypt. In the end, they were defeated by Moses, the people and by Hashem. We are reminded that in every generation there arises an Amalek bent on destroying the Jewish people.

Not only do we need to remember, but we need to teach the world about past history so it is not repeated. Haman, from our Purim story, is said to be a descendant of Amalek. So, too, was Hitler. Hamas clearly is a descendant of Amalek. Their actions on October 7^th  through this very day are clearly indicative of that reality

So, too, are those who spew anti-Semitic rhetoric. I am horrified by this week’s pronouncement that suggests that those Jews who vote for one political party over another hate their religion. Each one of us are entitled to our own political views, whether we are card carrying Republicans or Democrats. Jewish thought and halacha sides with both views, depending on one’s outlook and how one interprets what is written in the Torah and the codes.

Needless to say, as Jews, we must also be mindful of what we say publicly, even when we disagree, for fear that others will use those words to ambush us. We found that out this week, as well, too. We may disagree with the current political situation in Israel, but should we not zachor, be mindful of how the world manipulates those words using it as fodder against the State of Israel and the Jewish people? While we agree with Mordechai’s stance, and most probably have stated the same, perhaps as we dig deeper down into how he voiced his opposition, we may understand why Haman was so distraught and why he plotted to destroy the Jewish inhabitants of Shushan and Persia.

Daily I have email conversations with friends who are rabbis who can be found in both parties. Discussions can be quite heated…yet in the end we all agree that we are colleagues and we like to listen to what each other has to say about the issues. And for most us, we agree to disagree or agree with one another. We all agree that we love our Jewish tradition, our Jewish heritage and our Jewish lifestyle. Our choice of studying to be rabbis and engaged as rabbis in the community is testament to that fact. I know that many of us in our community understand that same truth.

So, perhaps the zachor might also be to remind us to be careful of those on the outside who might use their influence to pit one Jewish person against another. We are Am Yisrael, we are the nation of Israel and the people of Israel. Whether we belong to a Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Renewal, Conservative or Orthodox congregation, what holds us together is that we are one in protecting our right to live our lives as Jews freely, and to express our Jewishness that brings us together as a family.

On this Shabbat Zachor, we must remember. We must not allow Israel or Jewish life to be ambushed, and we must celebrate the essence of what it means to be Jewish.

I hope that you will join us for services on this Shabbat Zachor as well as for our community’s joint Purim celebration as Shabbat concludes with the reading of the Megillah, the eating of hamantaschen, and this year’s Purim Spiel.

Shabbat shalom and Happy Purim.

Rabbi K